What NFL head coaches learn from the tough lessons of their top assistants

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6581609/2025/08/31/robert-saleh-brian-flores-nfl-coaches-lessons/?source=emp_shared_article

It has only been four years since the start of Brandon Staley’s tenure as a head coach and two since its end.

If all had gone according to his original plan, he’d probably still be the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Instead, Staley spent this summer in Irvine, Calif., at training camp as the New Orleans Saints’ new defensive coordinator, hired by first-year head coach Kellen Moore this spring.

For Staley, the job is a return to a past life. He installed a new defense under L.A. Rams coach Sean McVay in 2020, and it became the NFL’s best. That vaulted Staley into a head coaching job, but he was fired in 2023 after a top-heavy and frequently injured Chargers roster underperformed and his defenses fell to the bottom of the NFL in many metrics. He took an assistant head coaching role in San Francisco in 2024 before Moore — his former offensive coordinator in 2023 — hired him in New Orleans.

The 42-year-old has gotten grayer. Tough lessons — about coaching, about himself — will do that to a man.

“There’s that saying, ‘you don’t need to be old to be wise, but you can’t have wisdom without experience,’ and I think that really applies to me,” Staley said with a small laugh. “What I thought I knew in 2020 and what I know now are so different.”

There’s no self-pity here; in fact, Staley exudes a bit of an edge. Working with Moore and his new Saints players these last few months has returned in Staley a familiar energy.

“It just felt really good to be at the beginning of something,” he said. “I think when you’re at the beginning, there’s that fresh possibility.”

Moore’s hiring of Staley fits into a familiar trend that accelerated this offseason: first-year head coaches, mostly offense-oriented, who have turned to former head coaches to run their defenses. Brian Schottenheimer hired Matt Eberflus in Dallas, Ben Johnson hired Dennis Allen in Chicago, Aaron Glenn hired Steve Wilks with the Jets.

Few know what the job of a head coach is really like — for better, and sometimes for worse. These first-year coaches sought experience and perspective.

Being able to bounce things off Wilks, the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach in 2018, “has been really, really good,” said Glenn, who took over the New York Jets this offseason after serving as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. ” … I pick his brain as much as I can.”

Schottenheimer and Eberflus — who helmed the Chicago Bears from 2022-24 after four years as the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts — had never previously worked together. But they spent much of their free time in the winter and spring hiring the rest of the Dallas Cowboys’ staff and discussing the direction of the program — and what Schottenheimer could expect from his new position. Navigating the unexpected is, of course, key. One week before the start of the regular season, the Cowboys traded All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay, a move that asks Schottenheimer and Eberflus to completely change the identity of their defense.

“I wanted to be open and really just be a sounding board for him to ask questions,” Eberflus said earlier this summer. “As a head coach, you have your philosophies and the things you want to do and how you want to do them. But I believe that it’s invaluable to have somebody (on your staff) that has done the job.”

“You can’t see around every corner. You try to look, but you can’t see around every corner.”

It’s not just rookie coaches who are seeking experienced leadership on the defensive side of the ball. In San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan pursued trusted former assistant Robert Saleh, the Jets’ head coach from 2021-24, to develop the rebuilding 49ers defense.

Saleh’s success as Shanahan’s defensive coordinator from 2017-20 earned him the Jets job. Now, he views Shanahan’s seat a little differently.

“(Before), you have a feel for his issues but you don’t really understand his issues because you haven’t been through it yourself,” Saleh said. “So there’s more of an empathy this time around. I can feel when (Shanahan) kind of has the burden of the organization on his back and he just needs a ‘Hey, how ya doing?’

“You’re on an island. It’s a lonely place,” he added, laughing.

Saleh said that a head coach can have phases where it feels like there is “always a fire,” and that he has to solve the problems for everyone. When Saleh notices shades of a familiar stress reflected every so often in Shanahan’s face or demeanor, he makes it known he’s there if needed.

“Just to be an extra set of eyes, another ear for him to talk to, someone who has the empathy to understand what he’s going through — I’m always here for him,” Saleh said. “But, you know, coming in and trying to re-invent the wheel and tell him how I did things, who the hell am I?”

Earlier this month, Johnson, the 39-year-old head coach of the Bears after three highly successful seasons as the Detroit Lions’ OC, said he has gotten advice during morning visits with Allen, who served as the Saints head coach from 2022-24 after seven years in New Orleans as defensive coordinator.

“He said, ‘When you’re in that seat, you got to come into work every morning and say there are going to be four or five things that come across my desk that (you’re) not anticipating,’” Johnson recalled. “If you think that it’s going to be smooth sailing, you’re going to be disappointed, but if you come in with that expectation, you’re going to be just fine.”

Coaches across the league view pairings such as Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo in Kansas City or Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores as models for success. Having an established, veteran defensive coordinator who was once a head coach can help a team in a number of ways, especially if the current head coach calls offensive plays.

That head coach has to understand what he can’t, or won’t have time, to do. Experienced defensive coaches lend insight into practice structure, the style of walkthrough the team should run and changing schematic trends, and generally have a tested teaching method.

Setting aside ego to bring aboard an assistant coach with potentially more experience (and hardware) is important.

“It’s like the one time in decision-making where you have to (operate as though) the result drives the process,” said O’Connell, who hired Flores as his defensive coordinator in 2023. Flores helped former Patriots coach Bill Belichick win four Super Bowls before coaching the Miami Dolphins from 2019-21. In Minnesota, he has one of the NFL’s top defenses.

“That’s not just once the hire is made. It’s thinking about the layers of the coaching staff, the layers of the schematics and how it will all fit from a complementary football landscape,” O’Connell continued. “I envisioned when I hired Flo that … I could lean on him to own the defense. I wanted them to build a team within the team.”

If offensive-minded head coaches get the top job based on the success of their schemes, they also know that hand-picking a defensive coach who can rip apart their playbooks on the practice field will make everybody better.

In 2017, McVay’s first season as the 30-year-old head coach of the Rams, he leaned on the 69-year-old defensive coordinator Wade Philips, a three-time head coach. When McVay replaced Phillips with Staley in 2020, he started allowing more live team periods in which the men called plays against each other as if they were rivals on opposing teams. The battles that training camp between McVay’s offense and Staley’s new-wave defense got so heated, McVay would leave the field steaming; he once ended a session early to go problem-solve in his office. Eventually McVay altered his own scheme, and those training camp days partially inspired the trade of quarterback Jared Goff to Detroit for veteran Matthew Stafford that offseason.

The Rams kept the live periods with Raheem Morris (another former head coach-turned defensive coordinator, now again the head coach in Atlanta) in 2021-23 and first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula in 2024.

Moore and Staley now do this in New Orleans. A particularly competitive red zone 11-on-11 period at training camp in August felt like a throwback to Staley’s time in L.A. Moore’s offense (still missing a full-time quarterback) couldn’t score, while Staley’s defense came alive, smack-talking, high-fiving and churning up the sod under their cleats as they made stop after stop. Veteran linebacker Demario Davis at one point skipped over to the crowd of reporters clustered with notebooks behind the sideline. “They’re hoping and wishing!” he called, “write that! They ain’t touch the paint all day.”

O’Connell, who was the offensive coordinator in L.A. in 2020 and ’21, also installed live periods in Minnesota. In preparation for each training camp, O’Connell and Flores build out a progression of these periods throughout the summer and into the preseason.

Flores runs an aggressive defense that often changes forms after the snap and sends exotic pressure at the quarterback. O’Connell understands that playing such a defense at real speed in the live periods can be frustrating — but it also encourages development for both sides. If second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy can learn to diagnose the most confusing pressure looks he’ll see in the safety of a practice setting, the belief is that everything else will slow down when the Vikings face real opponents.

“There’s been some days the defense ‘wins’… but it (still) seems like the arrow is up for both sides. That arrow doesn’t need to be the same. That’s (what) teams that are truly built the right way understand: as long as the arrow is up, doesn’t matter what that looks like,” O’Connell said. “There’s growth potential for everybody.”

Several other teams use live periods. Reid and Spagnuolo are infamous for these, and for their “grueler” double-digit-play drives, tailored to test players’ physical and mental limits. Yet the frequency, competitiveness and overall functionality of live periods still depends on the level of the players and how advanced the coaches/coordinators are.

Johnson holds live competitive periods and sometimes goes live in practice despite a pre-planned script for certain portions. Bears defensive end Montez Sweat told NFL Network this summer that he had more live periods in training camp this summer than any other time in his career. Allen, said Johnson, “shows no mercy. … He’s keeping his foot on the pedal and wants to keep installing and bringing the noise.”

Schottenheimer allows Eberflus’ defensive group to set certain matchups in one-on-one drills based on what coaches want to see, or how they feel specific players should be challenged. Where some coaches might not want a defense to aggressively make plays on the ball against their teammates, Eberflus has always stressed turnovers (even in 2024, the season Eberflus was fired, the Bears finished tied for 9th in defensive takeaways). Schottenheimer agreed.

“Allowing us to punch at the football every single day as an offensive coach and saying you’re OK with that, most offensive coordinators wouldn’t be OK with that,” said Eberflus. “He is, because it’s about winning.”

Legendary, too, are the old practice battles between Shanahan and Saleh when Saleh last was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. The two coaches would sometimes go so hard at each other in training camps that they wouldn’t speak to each other for days.

But out of those competitive settings evolved Shanahan’s dominant offense, and Saleh’s innovative “Wide 9” defense. Recapturing some of that former magic reunited the two coaches this offseason, but their task is now very different. The 49ers are partially rebuilding, with their first five draft picks this spring dedicated to defensive positions.

“So there’s a little bit of balance, ‘OK, we can’t just pick up the history book and repeat,’” Saleh said. “There’s a lot of different things that have happened. There is recall, but it’s a completely new adventure. … The competitive part is still there. But (there’s) been so much more dialogue and discussion in terms of — we’re at certain spots in our careers where I feel like it’s been very productive.”

Saleh consulted in Green Bay for head coach and close friend Matt LaFleur in the latter weeks of the 2024 season and sought advice from Belichick about why he once returned to coach under Bill Parcells in 1996 after five seasons as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach.

“It was the same conversations, like he understood why Bill (Parcells) was doing things (after Belichick was a head coach),” Saleh said. “So he went back to a championship format, in terms of how they operated. And it helped him understand the ‘why’. For me, it’s coming back to a championship organization that I was familiar with. And it’s been great, because all of the ‘whys’ are starting to click.”

Some of Saleh’s time in New York feels like a wound, but one he can revisit because of what he learned. Having a larger view of the entire roster — offense, defense, special teams — for a few years as a head coach now informs some of Saleh and Shanahan’s collaboration.

“He can talk to me in a way that is more advanced than he probably talked to me back then,” Saleh said, “and it’s welcome.”

Bobby@kirbybobby1
@kurt13warner why were you able to spread the ball so well in your career? I know you talk about reads but did you just have trust w/all your wrs? I ask because u had great 1s 4 wrs but you didn’t just go to the 1s. In today’s game it seems like qbs have 1 favorite wr and that’s

Kurt Warner@kurt13warner
For me it started with having GREAT concepts that you felt had answers vs every defense… then from there my job wasn’t to get the ball to any one guy but to allow the defense to dictate where the ball went! When u have those two things at play the ball goes all over!

Then when I had 1 on 1 with my guys and a route that could allow me to go to them – I would feed my best players!!

Now THAT'S what i am talking about @omarspeights

Watch RLB Omar Speights slip behind the RG and smack Aaron Jones…

Oh hell, yeah pic.twitter.com/aCu9nbCAS9

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) October 25, 2024

The sky is the limit for Jared Verse 📈 pic.twitter.com/T415vk1EpT

— PFF (@PFF) August 30, 2025

from The Athletic, Intel on all 32 NFL teams: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6582010/2025/08/29/nfl-teams-rumors-drake-maye-rome-odunze/

After visiting a dozen training camps this summer and talking to dozens of sources around the NFL, I compiled intel on all 32 teams.

The information ranges from a broad overview of how a team could fare this season to more specific tidbits regarding player projections and roster construction

…

Los Angeles Rams

Here’s a fun, bold prediction. One rival executive predicted Rams defensive end Jared Verse would be the league’s best defensive player this season. The 2024 first-round pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year was more disruptive than his 4.5 sacks would suggest, and the young and improving Rams defense might have another star on its hands.

from https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54662/

Shaun Dolac

2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about SHAUN DOLAC:

Buffalo | Hometown: West Seneca, NY | HT: 6002 | WT: 221 | 40 time: 4.63 | Hand: 0938 | Arm: 3000 | Wing: 7438

Three year starter. First team All-MAC and consensus All-American in 2024. Led the MAC in tackles in 2024. Led all FBS players with 81 solo tackles. Incredible numbers in his career with 384 tackles, 6 interceptions, 12 sacks, and 12 pass breakups. Missed most of 2023 with an injury. Former walk-on became a team leader on and off the field. Mostly lined up as an off the ball Sam but was also in the middle. Some overhang reps as well. Instinctive initial read and react and is patient and normally precise. Inside run fits are consistently accurate. When he “sees it” can fly downhill to make plays on the line. Adept at taking open windows to get into the backfield and make a play. Exhibits ability to slip blocks on the move with quick hands. Shuffles outside staying on the back hip of the ball carrier with angles to meet the play in the alley. Shows a burst out of a shuffle when a back declares upfield. In zone coverage is adept at passing crossers and reading the quarterback. Has mirror ability to match backs out of the backfield. Gets depth in his drop with vision to balance routes in underneath zones. Quick break on the ball with hands to the catch point. Excellent blitzer with timing on the snap and a closing burst chasing. Tackling skill is virtually flawless with gather, wrap and drive. Doesn’t miss many tackles. Not the best at taking on blocks. At times takes a side and is ridden out. On straight up blocks, lacks power and can be driven back. Was a notable Combine snub as he lacks elite speed and size. He’s too productive to ignore and will get a shot.

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay said today that OL Alaric Jackson will practice Monday and also be “a full participant if the plans go accordingly on Wednesday and Thursday, and take part in the walkthrough on Friday.”

From a health standpoint, McVay said “everybody was back out there” for the team’s scrimmage this morning, “so that was a real positive.”

“We’re getting healthy at the right time.”

This is the BEST uniform in the history of the NFL and somehow the Rams fucked it up. pic.twitter.com/lHTIVEmFGB

— The Rams Forum: LA’s Playbook for Passionate Fans (@RamsFansForum) August 28, 2025

Zooey wrote:

CBS has him listed as questionable for Week One with a knee injury. I’ve seen nothing about a knee problem from any other source.

This answers it. From today. CBS is just wrong.

…

from Brock Vierra, Jared Verse Shines in Rams Dress Rehearsal Practice--The Los Angeles Rams upped the tempo as they storm toward the first week of the 2025 NFL season: https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/jared-verse-sean-mcvay-matthew-stafford-terrance-ferguson

The last point I want to end on is this. Tyler Davis is going to make so much money in his NFL career if he displays what he’s been doing at practice in game situations.

Everyone was a full participant except Alaric Jackson. Jackson is set to resume practice on Monday.

Jared Verse was a nightmare on Thursday. He’s usually very effective but regardless of what he was asked to do, Verse was flying to the quarterback, being a perpetual force in the backfield. Chris Shula has been in his bag throughout training camp and preseason but once the regular season begins, Shula is going to have his players humming because not only is Verse playing at a high level, so are his teammates.

Byron Young stated Shula was creating better matchups for his players based on their individual skills, Verse said the defensive line has worked to rush together, a statement backed by the entire line. We haven’t hit it yet, but I’m seeing the foundation of those two ideals collide and goodness, opposing offenses beware.

Amazing, they’re building a very good WR unit while spending almost nothing in draft capital.

Nacua. As everyone knows, a 5th round pick.
Adams. Top market FA, though they didn’t overspend for him.
Atwell. gadget player (though maybe a good one this year), and a 2nd round pick. Highest pick spent in this unit.
Whittington. Developing player, has a knack to him, they say he made strides this off-season. 6th round pick.
Smith. 2023 UDFA and practice squad type who developed both as a returner and receiver. He too made strides in the off-season.
Mumpfield. Highly regarded 7th round pick with a lot of potential, a maestro type with great route running abilities.

On the practice squad, they have 2 more. 2025 UDFAs who stood out in the preseason. Brennan Presley and Tru Edwards. Both made clutch plays, and in fact, believe me, these 2 were the only reason to watch the preseason games. They’re very different. Presley is 5’8″, runs a 4.4, quick and agile, a college team captain. Tru Edwards is 6’2″, a tough and athletic guy who runs a 4.5. Both…from what we’ve seen so far…are gamers.

In the NFL, there’s an unwritten rule that teams don’t claim waived/injured players. It’s a courtesy so the original team can stash them on IR without losing them.

31 teams respected that with #Rams OL Willie Lampkin. The #Eagles (Howie Roseman) broke tradition and claimed him. pic.twitter.com/G3EKrOobGc

— JaredVerseFC (@jaredversefc) August 27, 2025

zn wrote:

Rams sign 16 players to initial 2025 practice squad

Wyatt Miller

Who’s on this list?

1. The 2 best young WRs from preseason who did not make the 53: Presley and Edwards. Both were very impressive this preseason.

2. 3 more OL. I discuss that in another thread.

3. The secondary. The Rams have 4 total CBs & safeties, & they’re exactly who you would think they would keep based on preseason play. CBs: Green & Lampkin; Safeties: Ingle & Valcarcel

4. Talk about depth at RB. These are the Rams 2 PS squad RBs: River, Schrader

Practice Squad is here.

…

Rams sign 16 players to initial 2025 practice squad

Wyatt Miller

https://www.therams.com/news/rams-sign-15-players-to-initial-2025-practice-squad

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams have signed 16 players to their initial practice squad for the 2025 season, including two veterans:

OL A.J. Arcuri
OL Wyatt Bowles
WR Tru Edwards
CB A.J. Green (veteran)
DT Jack Heflin
S Tanner Ingle
CB Cam Lampkin
OL Dylan McMahon
OLB Jamil Muhammad
ILB Elias Neal
DL Bill Norton
WR Brennan Presley
TE Mark Redman
RB Ronnie Rivers (veteran)
RB Cody Schrader
S Nate Valcarcel

Albert Breer@AlbertBreer
Personnel departments take pride in having multiple players claimed—It can be a sign of roster depth. So …

• The Rams had a league-high 4 players claimed.

• The Chargers, Ravens, Colts and Jags had 3 each.

• The Chiefs, Broncos and Vikings had 2 apiece.

HoldenCantor@HoldenCantor
Eagles claimed Willie Lampkin
Raiders claimed Brennan Jackson
Patriots claimed Charles Woods
Seahawks claimed Derion Kendrick

Brennan Presley went unclaimed

Rams Wire@TheRamsWire
Former Rams rookie LB Chris Paul Jr. goes unclaimed off waivers

Rams Fans United@RamsFansUnited
Rams make no claims, have 4 players claimed, that’s some pretty serious roster depth…